SPRINGFIELD — Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch turned back a hard-fought challenge from former sheriff’s deputy David A. Timm to win the March 17 Republican primary.
Crouch garnered 54% of the vote with 100% of the precincts counted.
“I’m grateful to the Republican voters, to my family and friends for all the support that I’ve had and I’m ready for the next leg of this journey,” Crouch told The State Journal-Register.
She earlier addressed supporters Tuesday evening in Sherman.
Crouch, a nearly 25-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, was appointed sheriff in September 2024. She emerged from 15 candidates to become the first female sheriff in the county’s 200-year plus history.
Crouch had the support of the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee, which has been paying for commercials which featured her predecessor, Jack Campbell. Campbell also walked with Crouch’s team in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Springfield March 14.
Campbell, who was first elected sheriff in 2018, declined to heed calls to resign after Sonya Massey’s 2024 fatal shooting before retiring on Aug. 31, 2024. Sean P. Grayson, who was hired under Campbell was convicted of second-degree murder in the Massey case in Peoria on Oct. 29. Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Timm, who retired from the department in January 2025, ran on a platform of “Trust restored, voices heard.” He described morale in the sheriff’s department as “very, very bad.”
Timm was one of the 15 applicants for sheriff in 2024.
In watching the results Tuesday, Crouch said she was “anxious” about the western part of the county because Timm lives there and had support there.
Crouch, running in her first election, said the race was “a lot more personal than I believe it should be for a professional position. A lot of work, a lot of support. It’s not a solo effort by any means.”
Democratic candidate Marc Bell announced on Feb. 9 his intention to withdraw from the sheriff’s race, though he remained on the ballot.
Dan Kovats, Vice Chair for the Sangamon County Democratic Party, said Tuesday Bell had yet to submit any documentation to the Sangamon County Clerk’s office to withdraw officially from the race.
The party, said Kovats, was “actively recruiting” for another candidate to take Bell’s spot.
“As soon as Marc submits the paperwork to withdraw his candidacy, our hope is to file a new candidate to run in his place and to win in November,” Kovats said.
Despite the announcement, Bell gathered over 11,000 votes Tuesday.
Crouch congratulated Bell on getting the votes, but whatever happens, “we will continue to watch and continue to fight, and I feel comfortable I have the support of Republican voters and nothing has changed. My record is still my record. My accomplishments and my experience is there and we’ll continue to highlight that and highlight the work we’re doing, no matter who the Democratic opponent is.”
(This story was updated with new information.)
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Crouch staves off challenge from Timm to win sheriff’s GOP primary
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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